Mangaluru: A woman from Kodi Kanyana village in Udupi district has alleged that Sub-Inspector and Constable of Brahmavar police station misbehaved and tried to molest her.
Speaking to media on Thusrday, Suchitra said that Brahmavara police Sub-Inspector Madhusudhan and Constable Taranath derided her on May 20 and upon complaining the same with the SP Annamalai, he refused to register a complaint against the SI and PC and openly backed them.
Suchitra informed that she had contacted Human Rights Association as constable Taranath had tried to molest her.
Narrating the incident, Suchitra said that her brother Sudheer was attacked on May 20 by six miscreants namely Karuna, Prashanth, Prahlad, Shekhar, Abhishek and Ashok at around 4.30pm to 5 pm. Sudheer was admitted in a private hospital at Brahmavar at 5.30pm. A complaint was filed at the Brahmavar police station. Constable Taranath came to the hospital to record the statement of Sudheer at 8.30pm. After recording the statement of Sudheer, Constable Taranath wrote a letter in favour of the miscreants who attacked Sudheer. When Sudheer and Suchitra refused to sign the letter, Taranath pulled her by holding her hand and misbehaved with her.
“I had a lot of trust on SP Annamalai, but the way he behaved with me was very scary. I went to him with a hope of getting justice for the harassment I faced by the police. But the SP was backing SI Madhusudhan and PC Taranath instead of taking action against them. I will not stop until I get justice,” she said.
Udupi Human Rights Women Wing In-charge, Jayashree Bhat said that according to Vishaka guidelines, the harassed victim’s statement is enough to file an FIR, but SI Madhusudhan did not file one. So we went to SP Annamalai and he said that he would throw us out from his office and also threatened to file FIR against us under section 181 and 209.
“Regarding the incident we have given a request letter to the IGP Arun Chakravarthy (Western range) on Thursday,” said Bhat.
Annamalai SP clarifies and issued statement:
SP Annamalai when contacted by newskaranataka.com clarified the entire incident.
On May 20 at 8.00 pm, Bharmavar Police station received intimation that one Sudheer was admitted at Pranav Hospital for treatment. Head Constable, Tharanath went to the hospital at 8.15 pm. After enquiring with Sudhir, Head constable Tharanath, recorded his statement. Sudheer, while giving statement, mentioned the names of those who assaulted him, but kept on changing the names of the people involved. Taranath asked Sudheer not to keeping twisting his own statement.
Sudheer’s sister Suchitra forcibly pulled the pad along with the statement, and the pad was taken back from her by the head constable, who later informed Sub-Inspector Madhusudhan about Suchitra’s behavior and the incident at the hospital.
On the request of members of local Human Rights Association, the Sub-Inspector sent another Head Constable Babu Poojary, to take statement from Sudheer and a case was filed under Section 341, 323, 504, 506, 149 IPC.
However, he assured to take action against the officers if they are found guilty. But he added that soon after the allegations were made, the officers were questioned and it was found that they acted as per law and did not involve in molestation.
“Being the SP of Udupi, it’s my duty to protect my people and at the same time I should not be under pressure to act against good officers over false allegations. The woman has carried out a press meet in Mangaluru instead of Udupi. The reason for this press release is to maintain the reputation of the department and also for the people of Mangaluru to know the truth,” he clarified.
